The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of madagascar cockroach meal (Gromphadorhina portentosa) in the feeding of calopsitas (Nymphicus hollandicus) in captivity
and its influence on the reproductive characteristics and the growth and development of pups.
Two experiments were performed. In the first experiment twelve couples were used during an
experimental period of 130 days, divided in four phases: posture, incubation, rearing of the pups
until 30 days of age and return to the new posture. The couples were divided into two groups,
one control, which received a commercial feed for psittacids + a mixture of seeds, and the test
group that received the same diet as the control group, but added the madagascar cockroach
meal in the ratio of 14g of feed for 1g of cockroach meal. After hatching, the pups remained
with the parents until the 30 days of life, when they were transferred to another room and
accompanied until the 90th day of life. In the second experiment, 28 pups were used during the
experimental period of 90 days, divided in two phases: rearing pups up to 30 days and rearing
pups from 31 to 90 days. The pups received the same diet from their parents' cage throughout
the experimental period. The body development of the birds was evaluated every three days
from the first to the 30th day of age and every 15 days from the 31st to the 90th day of age. The
inclusion of cockroach meal did not influence the consumption of commercial and seed rations
during the evaluated reproductive phases of the couples (P> 0.05), with the exception of feed
consumption in the return to reproductive phase, however, the cholesterol content in the yolk
increased (P <0.05), the width of eggs, shape index and the number of viable pups with 1 day
of life. There was no influence (P> 0.05) on the percentage of hatching, on the contents of most
of the fatty acids present in the yolk and on the survival rate of the pups at 30 and 90 days of
age. The cockroach meal did not influence (P> 0.05) the survival rate, weight, total length and
length of the beak, wing and tail of the animals, however, increased the consumption of seeds
from the 31st to the 90th day of age. It is concluded that the inclusion of madagascar cockroach
meal (Gromphadorhina portentosa) in the diet improves the reproductive characteristics of
Nymphicus hollandicus, and in the diet of the pups did not cause damage to the growth and
development of this species in captivity and can be used as an alternative source of protein for
this species to replace commercial feed by up 6.6%.